Critical reviews (by Lutheran pastors, educators and church musicians) of books and other resources for Christian use from a perspective rooted in Holy Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions and good common sense. We ask, "Is it worth the money to buy, the time to read and study, the shelf space to store, and the effort to teach?"

The doctrine of the church was contentious as Lutherans argued for
the scriptural catholicity of their churches, which embraced the
Reformation, over against Roman Catholic claims to be the one, holy,
catholic, and apostolic church confessed in the creeds. Distinguishing
between visibility and invisibility as aspects of the same church,
Gerhard discusses whether the church can err and defines the true marks
of the church. Yet this volume covers much more than just the doctrine
of the church. It deals with mission, miracles, prophecy, the curious
case of “Pope Joan,” and the corruptions of the papacy in the centuries
leading up to Gerhard’s time.

The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English
translation of Johann Gerhard's monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was
the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century.
Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology
with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant
works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard
interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his
contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day.
His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran
orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and
interpretation of Scripture to eschatology.

Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard's accessible
style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and
professional church workers.

Each embossed hardback volume includes•the translation of Gerhard's Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625) •a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms •a name index •a Scripture index •a
carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for
deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which
Gerhard quotes.

Now more timely than ever, Gerhard's volume On the Church will help Lutherans and Christians better understand the claims of the Roman Office of the Papacy.

I shared the following with my congregation in our March Newsletter:

There are really only two seasons in Wyoming. Winter and
Road Construction. Both are seasons for Caution.

You can tell that “Spring” is here when it snows on your way
in to church on Sunday and it has melted by the time we get out of church.

Everybody knows when it is Road Construction Season. We see
orange cones, orange signs, and orange vests on workers. And we have to slow
down and switch lanes.

Since the Pope announced his resignation, and the Roman
church is preparing for a conclave to select a new Pope, I’d like to offer some
evangelical words of caution.

The media is excited. Roman Catholics are excited. We, as
Lutherans especially, have reason for caution.

In 1537, Lutherans laid out our basic concerns with the
Roman Church and the office of the papacy. The document is called the Treatise,
short for the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, part of Concordia:
The Lutheran Confessions and is also available to read for free online (http://bookofconcord.org/treatise.php).

The first four lines read like this:

1]
The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right
he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom].

2]
Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority
also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular
dominions etc.].

3]
And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for
these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar
of Christ on earth.

4]
These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite]
pernicious to the Church.

The Treatise is a quick read. It is only 82 paragraphs long.
Lutherans should read it any time there is a vacancy in the office of pope. It
answers head-on the false Roman claim that Jesus made Peter the first pope in
Matthew 16:18.

If you don’t own a copy of the Book of Concord and do
not have access to a computer, please contact the office and we can arrange to
print a copy of the Treatise for you.

The announcement of the new pope will be made soon, before
Palm Sunday, with white smoke, ceremony, an announcement of the new pope’s new
name, and a post on Twitter. There will also be the Latin announcement: Habemus
Papam! (We have a Pope!) As Christians we rejoice in what we have in common
with other Christians from Scripture alone. Our announcement will remain: Habent papa. Habemus Christum! (They
have a pope. We have Christ!)

I had recently finished reading this volume of Gerhard's Theological Commonplaces. Can you tell?

The Editor's Preface reminds us that "catholic" is really a synonymn of "universal" (xii, cf. 279ff.).

Gerhard shows the theological freight of "Church" flowing through the Old Testament and Septuagint into New Testament Greek (7).

Gerhard proves that "the pure preaching of the Word and the legitimate administration of the Sacraments are th emarks of the church" (241).

He writes of Jesuits (362) in connection with churches in the New World. Gerhard demolishes so-called apostolic succession (372ff), proves papal indulgences to be a novelty (419) while defending justification (passim), gives examples of divisions within "monolithic" Rome (506ff) and sins that flourish in the papacy (535, etc.).

Gerhard shares fascinating "prophecies about Luther from the histories" (670ff).

Finally, he provides Chaper XIII, guidance "On the Use of This Commonplace."

Read together with Gerhard's volumes on the Ministry, On the Church will help the modern Christian respond Biblically to modern and ancient errors in understanding Church and Ministry.

A new study edition of Walther's book on the topics will be reviewed very soon.The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan,
Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, Yellowstone
Circuit Visitor (LCMS Wyoming District), a member of the Board of
Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education,
Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.

When
asked by his barber and good friend, Peter Beskendorf, for some
practical guidance on how to prepare oneself for prayer, Martin Luther
responded by writing this brief treatise first published in 1535. A Simple Way to Pray is
a fresh modern translation bringing us Luther's practical instruction,
using Luther's I.T.C.P. method of prayer. This method anchors prayer in
the catechism or other biblical texts, but allows the Holy Spirit to
prompt thoughts via the Word, which may be chased more freely by the
mind at prayer.

Instruction:
Lord Christ, You instruct me here that I am to listen carefully and
heed the word of my pastor when he speaks Your Word. The pastoral office
is profound; my pastor is not only charged to watch over my soul, but
You also call him to account for his service to me. Finally, You tell me
in this text that I am to be a joy to my pastor and not a pain, and
this for my own spiritual benefit.

Thanksgiving:
Jesus, I thank You for my pastor. In fact, I thank You for the pastor
who baptized me, and all pastors who have served me in my life as a
Christian. Thank You for all the sermons that have clearly shown me my
sin and delivered to me the free forgiveness of the Gospel because of
Your sacrifice for me on the cross.

Confession:
Lord, I confess that so often I fail to pray for my pastor. I fail to
be gracious to his family. I do not pay attention to his preaching. I
have gossiped and failed to love and defend him and “put the best
construction on everything.” I deserve to have my faithful pastor taken
away. Forgive me my many sins, and help me to do better. Help me
especially to be a joy to my pastor and to encourage him in his
difficult office.

Prayer:
Savior, bless my pastor with faithfulness to Your Word. Cause him to
grow in knowledge of Your Word. Give him courage and strength for his
tasks. I thank You for (name)
and for all faithful pastors. Grant success to the work of our
seminaries. Bless our professors and students. And give my pastor joy. I
ask all this for Your sake alone. Amen.

Translator, Pastor Matthew C. Harrison is the president of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

(Publisher's website)

Luther teaches us to pray the Catechism, setting an example of how to pray the Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. I am thankful for such a useful, affordable, and faithful tract/booklet that can help pastors, teachers, and households learn to see and use the Catechism as more than a textbook. This would be a great gift for confirmands, graduates, new parents, and new elders. And gentlemen, don't forget to buy a copy for your barber!Our second book today is available for the first time in English, Kirchen-Gesangbuch fur Evangelish-Lutherische Gemeinden ungeanderter Augsburgischer Confession (1892).

Walther's Hymnal: Church Hymnbook is
the first of its kind: an English translation of the first official
hymnal of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This was the hymnal that
C.F.W. Walther edited and used, and that provided Christians throughout
the LCMS a common experience during the Church's early years in America,
in the same way that Lutheran Service Book provides a common experience
for us today.

Now presented for the first time in English, this is an invaluable
resource for history enthusiasts, church musicians, and anyone who wants
insight into how our grandfathers sang and prayed. This is a chance to
share in that song and prayer of the saints gone before us.

Matthew Carver, MFA, is a translator of German and classical
literature. He resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife Amanda and their
young son, where they pursue interests in art, orthodox Lutheran
theology, liturgy, and hymnody.

(Publisher's website)

Cantemus! Let us sing! That is how we often introduce forwards from Mr. Carver's blog site (http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com/), where he posts great English translations of Latin and German hymn texts that deserve to be sung today.

So, when this reviewer met the translator in person this January, I shared, "There's one main problem with the book. It deserves a leather cover and gilded edges!" He politely accepted my compliment and gently reminded me that this is not intended to be an official hymnal of the LCMS. (In order to be so it must be adopted by convention action.) I agree, yet assert that it should be a sourcebook for better English translations of hymns already in LSB, as well as hymns that deserve the opportunity to be considered for a future LSB Supplement and the successor hymnal to LSB.

At the congregation I currently serve, the original German version was used side-by-side with a Volga German hymnal. Making the transition to English took generations. I still today have four ladies in the congregation who request visits in German. At our congregation's recent 110th Anniversary service, the Epistle was read in both German and English and the Lord's Prayer was prayed in both languages. Walther's Hymnal gives English-only speakers and readers insight into our rich and living liturgical and hymnological heritage.

Collects and Prayers (359ff), History of the Passion (371ff), and The Destruction of Jerusalem (380) served as edifying devotional material for me this Lent. Yes, some portions are omitted (see 387-8 for an explanation). A Divine Service Liturgy is found in the Appendices before tunes not found in modern LCMS hymnals.

Buy a copy of Walther's Hymnal if you have a family copy of Walther's original. Buy a copy especially if you don't have a copy of the original and then download a pdf of the original from Google Books.

Today's third book is the newest by far, copyright 2012.

The errors the author warns against are far older.

Real AnswersReal ReligionReal Holy Spirituality

There are only two kinds of spirituality in the world. One is
false, and one is true. One is the manifestation of the old evil foe who
has sent many false spiritualties out into the world, and the other is
the holy spirituality found only in faith in the one true God. One is a
lie, and one is real.

But which is which?

There is a cultural perfect storm shredding the
spiritual landscape of the United States. It travels on the wind of a
growing ignorance of both history and the Bible. Christians are losing
faith because the kind of Christianity they are trying to believe is

BROKEN

This book examines seven of the most common spiritual
traditions and how they use speculation, mysticism, and moralism to
break Christianity. Author Jonathan Fisk calls them the seven
“counterfeit Christian rules that every Christian ought to break as
often as possible,” because they are seven myths that have infiltrated
the churches in our age, seven teachings taught as if they were
doctrine, but which are nothing more than the traditions of men.

The dark secret of Christianity in America is that we are losing. We hide it with light shows, Christian dance and music, and video games, but it’s true. And it’s not new.

The house has grown too dirty. Fisk is going to sweep
it clean. All of it: the dusty corners where spores of speculation lay,
the air filled with the mustiness of mysticism, the grout where the mold
of moralism has grown thick over our clean confidence in Christ. Once
the grime has been scrubbed away, Fisk shows how, under the cross of
Jesus, you will find that your mind, heart, and hands, your reason,
emotions, and sense of mercy, are the very things that our Lord has
redeemed. In the resurrection of Jesus, in His fulfillment of the Law,
in the essence of His Gospel, in the pure Word of God, you will find the
truth.

(Publisher's website)

Best known for his Worldview Everlasting videos on You Tube, Pr. Jonathan Fisk communicates the Lutheran Confession of the Christian faith using fresh language.

My review copy was waiting at home while I was stranded in an airport. Thankfully, I had my Kindle Fire with me, free airport WiFi, and a kindle version of Broken available in the Amazon store thanks to CPH. Reading Broken in that way helped me experience the book in the way many of today's young Lutheran Christians should consider the dangers of legalism, false worship, and not properly distinguishing God's Law and God's Gospel.

The graphic design of the book is unlike anything you've seen from Concordia. Line art reminds me of a tasteful and appropriate mix of pop culture, classic Christian devotional woodcuts, and an eye for composition borrowed from Monty Python. I always wondered what Worldview Everlasting would look like in print. Now I know.Broken is a book appropriate for youth and youth leaders, particularly youth disillusioned by caricatures of Christianity, hypocrites, failed preachers, and sectarianism. It should also be read alongside resources by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt for those who have been sinned against by the Church.

More classics from Concordia Publishing House are coming in future reviews. In the meantime, order (or save up for) these three Lutheran classics.

The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan,
Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, Yellowstone
Circuit Visitor (LCMS Wyoming District), a member of the Board of
Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education,
Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.

Contributors and Reviewers are identifiedat the end of each signed article or review.

Note:Unsolicited titles will be considered for review based on the time our volunteer reviewers have available,how interested we believe our readers would be in the unsolicited resource in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

FTC Regulations Compliance

Disclosure of Material Connection: LBR received these books or other resources free from the publisher. We were not required to write a positive review. The opinions we have expressed are our own.

While every effort was made to be as accurate and objective as possible, inevitably, the opinions of the authors of various articles and reviews will surface, and individually, we take full responsibility for them. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors, and may not necessarily reflect that of the LCMS, the Wyoming District, or LBR.